Outrigger Deployment Mechanism

ABSTRACT

An outrigger deployment mechanism is provided. The outrigger deployment mechanism may include, one or more outrigger adjustment plates; one or more outriggers; one or more outrigger arms operably coupling the one or more outriggers to the one or more outrigger adjustment plates; one or more locking mechanisms operably engaged with at least one of the one or more outrigger adjustment plates and at least one of a corresponding one or more outrigger arms, wherein the one or more locking mechanisms are configured to lock the outriggers in various positions; and one or more adjustment mechanisms operably engaged with one or more of the one or more locking mechanisms and the one or more outrigger arms, wherein the one or more adjustment mechanisms are configured to position the outriggers.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is generally related to an outrigger deployment mechanism.Specifically, the invention relates to an outrigger deployment systemfor a watercraft with a mechanism for deploying and locking theoutriggers in multiple positions.

BACKGROUND

Typically, many watercrafts, such as kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards (SUP), and the like can be unstable, especially in rough waters,when an occupant is attempting to stand (e.g., while fishing), gettinginto or out of the watercraft, or having multiple occupants. Attemptshave been made to improve the stability in various watercrafts,including the use of outriggers or pontoons. However, in most instancesthe outriggers extend out from the watercraft and are in a fixednon-adjustable position. This is disadvantageous as it adversely affectsthe forward or rearward movement of the watercraft and makes the watercraft wider, thus, making it more difficult to transport and to navigatenarrow bodies of water. In other instances, attempts have been made touse retractable outriggers, however, such designs substantial hinder theability to paddle the watercraft when the outriggers are in the deployedposition and also do not provide the ability to lock the outriggers invarious positions of deployment (i.e., the outriggers are either fullyretracted or fully deployed), thus making such a design unsuitable foruse while paddling and less stable. Other attempts have been made toimprove stability of a kayak using a deployable fan tail. However, sucha design, while improving stability to some extent while in a stationaryposition, allowing for the fan tail to be deployable instead of fixed,would adversely affect the forward or rearward movement of thewatercraft making it more difficult to maneuver and less streamlinedwhile the fan tail is deployed.

Thus, it would be desirable to provide an outrigger system with amechanism for deploying and locking the outriggers in multipledeployment positions with the outriggers remaining substantiallyparallel with the main hull of a watercraft, while deployed in anyposition, and therefore providing stability without adversely affectingthe forward or rearward movement of the watercraft, no matter whatposition the outriggers are deployed.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, an outrigger deployment mechanism is provided. Theoutrigger deployment mechanism may include, one or more outriggeradjustment plates; one or more outriggers; one or more outrigger armsoperably coupling the one or more outriggers to the one or moreoutrigger adjustment plates; one or more locking mechanisms operablyengaged with at least one of the one or more outrigger adjustment platesand at least one of a corresponding one or more outrigger arms, whereinthe one or more locking mechanisms are configured to lock the outriggersin various positions; and one or more adjustment mechanisms operablyengaged with one or more of the one or more locking mechanisms and theone or more outrigger arms, wherein the one or more adjustmentmechanisms are configured to position the outriggers. The one or morelocking mechanisms may include one or more spring-loaded locking pins.The one or more outrigger adjustment plates may include one or morereceptacles for receiving an end portion of the one or morespring-loaded locking pins. The one or more outrigger arms may beshaped. The one or more outrigger arms may be shaped such that a distalend coupled to the one or more outriggers may include a curved portion.The outrigger deployment mechanism may further include an inside armpivot configured to pivotably connect the one or more outrigger arms tothe one or more outrigger adjustment plates; and an outside arm pivotconfigured to pivotably connect the one or more outrigger arm to the oneor more outriggers. The inside arm pivot and the outside arm pivot maybe configured to allow the one or more outriggers to maintain asubstantially parallel position in relationship to a main hull of awatercraft through movement of the one or more outriggers to variousdeployed positions. The outrigger arms may include at least a frontoutrigger arm and a rear outrigger arm. The front outrigger arm mayinclude a front inside arm pivot configured to pivotably connect thefront outrigger arm to one of the one or more outrigger adjustmentplates and a front outside arm pivot configured to pivotably connect thefront outrigger arm to a front portion of one of the one or moreoutriggers, and wherein the rear outrigger arm may include a rear insidearm pivot configured to pivotably connect the rear outrigger arm to oneof the one or more outrigger adjustment plates and a rear outside armpivot configured to pivotably connect the rear outrigger arm to rearportion of one of the one or more outriggers. The locking mechanisms maybe operably engaged with the front outrigger arm. The one or moreadjustment mechanisms may include one or more handles. The one or morelocking mechanisms may be manually engaged and/or disengaged directly byan operator. The one or more locking mechanisms may be engaged and/ordisengaged by an operator via the one or more adjustment mechanisms.

In another embodiment, a method of adjusting outriggers via an outriggerdeployment mechanism is provided. The method may include, disengaging anoutrigger locking mechanism, wherein the outrigger locking mechanism maybe operably engaged with one or more outrigger adjustment plates and oneor more outrigger arms, and wherein the one or more outrigger arms mayoperably couple the one or more outriggers to the one or more outriggeradjustment plates; adjusting an adjustment mechanism operably coupled tothe one or more outrigger arms until the one or more outriggers are in adesired position; and engaging the outrigger locking mechanism to securethe one or more outriggers in a desired position

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described the presently disclosed subject matter in generalterms, reference will now be made to the accompanying Drawings, whichare not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a watercraft with outriggers ina nested position;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a watercraft with outriggers ina deployed position;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a watercraft with outriggers in anested position; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of a watercraft with outriggers in adeployed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is generally related to an outrigger deploymentmechanism. Specifically, the invention relates to an outrigger systemfor a watercraft with a mechanism for deploying and locking theoutriggers in multiple deployment positions with the outriggersremaining substantially parallel with the main hull of a watercraft,such as a kayak, while deployed in any position. The outriggers anddeployment mechanism provides greater stability while not adverselyaffecting the forward or rearward movement of the watercraft. Further,in one embodiment, the outrigger deployment mechanism may allow for theoutriggers to be deployed closer to the center (front to back) of themain hull of the watercraft without being a hindrance to paddling, andalso may allow for the outriggers to be tucked in further next to themain hull of the watercraft when retracted (nested).

The outrigger deployment mechanism may be used on virtually any type ofwatercraft (e.g., a kayak, canoe, SUP) to improve stability withoutcompromising or adversely affecting the forward or rearward movement ofthe craft and without interfering with paddling.

The outrigger deployment mechanism achieves its objectives, in oneembodiment, by using one or more pivoting arms for each outrigger thatare formed and positioned in a manner as to maintain the outriggers in asubstantially parallel positioning in relation to a main hull of thewatercraft no matter what position or state of deployment the outriggersare in. A locking mechanism, such as one or more spring loaded pins andcorresponding receptacles, may be used in conjunction with one or morepivot points that are attached to the main hull in order to lock theposition of each outrigger at multiple distances from the main hull(e.g., multiple deployment positions).

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention, an outrigger deployment mechanism 100 is provided. Outriggerdeployment mechanism 100 may include one or more outrigger adjustmentplates 105, wherein adjustment plates 105 may be formed on, integratedwith, or otherwise attached or coupled to a watercraft. Outriggeradjustment plates 105 preferably provide a sturdy mount for one or morefront outrigger arms 110A and provide corresponding receptacles 115(e.g., holes) that accommodate one or more locking mechanisms 120, suchas one or more spring-loaded locking pins, or other suitable lockingmechanism, which secure one or more outriggers 125 into variouspositions in relationship to main hull 130.

In one example, locking mechanisms 120 are preferably incorporated intothe front outrigger arms 110A at a position that allows for the lockingmechanisms 120, such as spring-loaded locking pins, to engagecorresponding receptacles 115 of the outrigger adjustment plates 105.

The outrigger deployment mechanism 100 further may include one or moreoutrigger adjustment mechanisms 135 (e.g., adjustment handle, or othersuitable device or mechanism). Outrigger adjustment mechanisms 135, inone example, may allow an operator to adjust outriggers 125 to variousdeployment positions once the locking mechanisms 120 (e.g.,spring-loaded locking pins) are disengaged from outrigger adjustmentplates 105. In one embodiment, to adjust outriggers 125, the operatormay pull up on the locking mechanism 120 (e.g., spring-loaded lockingpins) and disengage the locking pins from the receptacles 115 they areengaged with, and allow outriggers 125 to be moved (e.g., retracted ordeployed), for example, using adjustment mechanisms 135. When theoutriggers 125 are in a desired position the operator may release thelocking mechanism 120 (e.g., spring-loaded locking pins), which allowsthe spring loaded locking pins of locking mechanism 120 to be forced(via spring action) into receptacles 115 that correspond with thedesired position of outriggers 125. In one example, locking mechanism120 may include spring loaded locking pins including a knob for anoperator to grasp that is attached to the locking pins and incorporatesa spring, wherein the operator uses the knob to pull up on the springloaded locking pins to release them from receptacles 115 of outriggeradjustment plates 105, thus allowing movement of outriggers 125 via, forexample, adjustment mechanisms 135, and when the operator releases theknob the spring action returns the locking pins to engage withreceptacles 115 of outrigger adjustment plates 105 they are alignedwith.

In another embodiment, to adjust outriggers 125, the operator may useadjustment mechanisms 135 to disengage locking mechanisms 120 fromoutrigger adjustment plates 105. For example, the user may push down (orpull up) on adjustment mechanisms 135 causing the locking mechanism(e.g., spring-loaded locking) to disengage from correspondingreceptacles 115 (holes), and then rotate the adjustment mechanisms 135in the desired direction to either retract or deploy outriggers 125.Once the outriggers are in the desired position the operator may use theadjustment mechanisms 135 (e.g., by pulling up, pushing down, orreleasing from the previous position used to disengage the lockingmechanism and letting a spring action pulling it up or pushing it down),to engage the locking mechanisms 120 with the outrigger adjustmentplates 105, thus securing (locking) the outriggers 125 in a position.

Outrigger arms 110, preferably operably engage adjustment mechanisms 135and outriggers 125 to provide for the deployment of outriggers 125 toall deployed positions while maintaining outriggers 125 in asubstantially parallel orientation relative to main hull 130. In oneembodiment, the shaped design of outrigger arms 110 (front outriggerarms 110A and rear outrigger arms 110B), provide for the positioning ofoutriggers 125 further forward (e.g., closer to a center point [front toback] of the main hull) than would a typical straight arm would providewithout obstructing the operator's ability to paddle and further allowsoutriggers 125 to be fully retracted and nested closer in next to themain hull 130.

Outrigger deployment mechanism 100 may further include a front arm pivot140, a rear arm pivot 145, a front arm outside pivot 150, and a rear armoutside pivot 155. Front arm pivot 140, rear arm pivot 145, front armoutside pivot 150, and rear arm outside pivot 155 provide operableconnection points between the outrigger arms 110, main hull 130, andoutriggers 125. Front arm pivot 140, rear arm pivot 145, front armoutside pivot 150, and rear arm outside pivot 155 also provide pivotpoints (rotation) to allow outriggers 125 to maintain theirsubstantially parallel positioning in relationship to the main hull 130through movement of outriggers 125 to various deployed positions inrelationship to their distance from main hull 130.

The outrigger deployment mechanism 100 allows for the movement ofoutriggers 125 from a fully retracted position (e.g. nested and securednext to the main hull 130), to a fully deployed and locked position withvarious locking deployment positions in between. The outriggerdeployment mechanism 100 also ensures that outriggers 125 remain in asubstantially parallel position in relationship to the hull 130 at allpositions.

In an alternative embodiment, the outrigger deployment mechanism 100could be reversed such that outriggers 125 are retracted towards mainhull 130 in a forward motion towards the front of main hull 130.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the outrigger deploymentmechanism 100 may use a single adjustment mechanism 135 to retract anddeploy both outriggers simultaneously.

While the invention has been described in terms of various specificembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventioncan be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of theclaims.

The foregoing detailed description of embodiments refers to theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of theinvention. Other embodiments having different dimensions, structures,capacities, and operations do not depart from the scope of the presentinvention. The term “the invention” or the like is used with referenceto certain specific examples of the many alternative aspects orembodiments of the applicant's invention set forth in thisspecification, and neither its use nor its absence is intended to limitthe scope of the applicant's invention or the scope of the claims. Thisspecification is divided into sections for the convenience of the readeronly. Headings should not be construed as limiting of the scope of theinvention. The definitions are intended as a part of the description ofthe invention. It will be understood that various details of the presentinvention may be changed without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. Furthermore, the foregoing description is for the purpose ofillustration only, and not for the purpose of limitation, as the presentinvention is defined by the claims as set forth hereinafter.

Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a,” “an,” and“the” refer to “one or more” when used in this application, includingthe claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a subject” includes aplurality of subjects, unless the context clearly is to the contrary(e.g., a plurality of subjects), and so forth.

Throughout this specification and the claims, the terms “comprise,”“comprises,” and “comprising” are used in a non-exclusive sense, exceptwhere the context requires otherwise. Likewise, the term “include” andits grammatical variants are intended to be non-limiting, such thatrecitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other likeitems that can be substituted or added to the listed items.

For the purposes of this specification and appended claims, unlessotherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, sizes, dimensions,proportions, shapes, formulations, parameters, percentages, parameters,quantities, characteristics, and other numerical values used in thespecification and claims, are to be understood as being modified in allinstances by the term “about” even though the term “about” may notexpressly appear with the value, amount or range. Accordingly, unlessindicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in thefollowing specification and attached claims are not and need not beexact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller as desired,reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurementerror and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the artdepending on the desired properties sought to be obtained by thepresently disclosed subject matter. For example, the term “about,” whenreferring to a value can be meant to encompass variations of, in someembodiments, ±100% in some embodiments ±50%, in some embodiments ±20%,in some embodiments ±10%, in some embodiments ±5%, in some embodiments±1%, in some embodiments ±0.5%, and in some embodiments ±0.1% from thespecified amount, as such variations are appropriate to perform thedisclosed methods or employ the disclosed compositions.

Further, the term “about” when used in connection with one or morenumbers or numerical ranges, should be understood to refer to all suchnumbers, including all numbers in a range and modifies that range byextending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth.The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers,e.g., whole integers, including fractions thereof, subsumed within thatrange (for example, the recitation of 1 to 5 includes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5,as well as fractions thereof, e.g., 1.5, 2.25, 3.75, 4.1, and the like)and any range within that range.

The foregoing detailed description of embodiments refers to theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of theinvention. The term “the invention” or the like is used with referenceto certain specific examples of the many alternative aspects orembodiments of the applicant's invention set forth in thisspecification, and neither its use nor its absence is intended to limitthe scope of the applicant's invention or the scope of the claims. Thisspecification is divided into sections for the convenience of the readeronly. Headings should not be construed as limiting of the scope of theinvention. The definitions are intended as a part of the description ofthe invention. It will be understood that various details of the presentinvention may be changed without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. Furthermore, the foregoing description is for the purpose ofillustration only, and not for the purpose of limitation, as the presentinvention is defined by the claims as set forth hereinafter.

What is claimed is:
 1. An outrigger deployment mechanism, comprising: a.one or more outrigger adjustment plates; b. one or more outriggers; c.one or more outrigger arms operably coupling the one or more outriggersto the one or more outrigger adjustment plates; d. one or more lockingmechanisms operably engaged with at least one of the one or moreoutrigger adjustment plates and at least one of a corresponding one ormore outrigger arms, wherein the one or more locking mechanisms areconfigured to lock the one or more outriggers in various positions; ande. one or more adjustment mechanisms operably engaged with one or moreof the one or more outrigger arms, wherein the one or more adjustmentmechanisms are configured to position the one or more outriggers.
 2. Theoutrigger deployment mechanism of claim 1, wherein the one or morelocking mechanisms comprises one or more spring-loaded locking pins. 3.The outrigger deployment mechanism of claim 2, wherein the one or moreoutrigger adjustment plates comprise one or more receptacles forreceiving an end portion of the one or more spring-loaded locking pins.4. The outrigger deployment mechanism of claim 1, wherein the one ormore outrigger arms are shaped.
 5. The outrigger deployment mechanism ofclaim 4, wherein the one or more outrigger arms are shaped such that adistal end coupled to the one or more outriggers comprises a curvedportion.
 6. The outrigger deployment mechanism of claim 1, furthercomprising an inside arm pivot configured to pivotably connect the oneor more outrigger arms to the one or more outrigger adjustment plates;and an outside arm pivot configured to pivotably connect the one or moreoutrigger arm to the one or more outriggers.
 7. The outrigger deploymentmechanism of claim 6, wherein the inside arm pivot and the outside armpivot are configured to allow the one or more outriggers to maintain asubstantially parallel position in relationship to a main hull of awatercraft through movement of the one or more outriggers to variousdeployed positions.
 8. The outrigger deployment mechanism of claim 1,wherein the outrigger arms comprise at least a front outrigger arm and arear outrigger arm.
 9. The outrigger deployment mechanism of claim 8,wherein the front outrigger arm comprises a front inside arm pivotconfigured to pivotably connect the front outrigger arm to one of theone or more outrigger adjustment plates and a front outside arm pivotconfigured to pivotably connect the front outrigger arm to a frontportion of one of the one or more outriggers, and wherein the rearoutrigger arm comprises a rear inside arm pivot configured to pivotablyconnect the rear outrigger arm to one of the one or more outriggeradjustment plates and a rear outside arm pivot configured to pivotablyconnect the rear outrigger arm to rear portion of one of the one or moreoutriggers.
 10. The outrigger deployment mechanism of claim 8, whereinthe one or more locking mechanisms are operably engaged with the frontoutrigger arm.
 11. The outrigger deployment mechanism of claim 1,wherein the one or more adjustment mechanisms comprises one or morehandles.
 12. The outrigger deployment mechanism of claim 1, wherein theone or more locking mechanisms is manually engaged and/or disengageddirectly by an operator.
 13. The outrigger deployment mechanism of claim1, wherein the one or more adjustment mechanisms are operably engagedwith one or more of the one or more locking mechanisms and the one ormore outrigger arms.
 14. The outrigger deployment mechanism of claim 13,wherein the one or more locking mechanisms is engaged and/or disengagedby an operator via the one or more adjustment mechanisms.
 15. A methodof adjusting outriggers via an outrigger deployment mechanism, themethod comprising: a. disengaging an outrigger locking mechanism,wherein the outrigger locking mechanism is operably engaged with one ormore outrigger adjustment plates and one or more outrigger arms, andwherein the one or more outrigger arms operably couple the one or moreoutriggers to the one or more outrigger adjustment plates; b. adjustingan adjustment mechanism operably coupled to the one or more outriggerarms until the one or more outriggers are in a desired position; and c.engaging the outrigger locking mechanism to secure the one or moreoutriggers in a desired position.